Wisdom

Is Charity In Action!

Discipleship Group Questions

for November 6, 2005

Scripture Readings:

Wisdom chapter 6:12-16:

“Resplendent and unfading is wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her.” In other words if you love wisdom you will spot it easily. But the flip side of that is that if you despise wisdom you won’t be able to see it even if it’s standing in front of you.

Reading on: “She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of their desire; For he shall find her sitting by his gate.” Wisdom wants to be known! Isn’t that fascinating. Wisdom wants to reveal itself. It’s not hiding or making itself difficult to discover. It is in fact seeking to reveal itself to us!

Reading on:

Whoever watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed, When you seek after wisdom you will be satisfied – you won’t be disappointed.

Reading on: For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence, - what is “prudence?” One encyclopedia defines it this way:

“An intellectual habit enabling us to see in any given juncture of human affairs what is virtuous and what is not, and how to come at the one and avoid the other.” (Catholic Encyclopedia)

Let’s keep reading:

And whoever for her sake keeps vigil

Shall quickly be free from care;

Because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her,

And graciously appears to them in the ways,

And meets them with all solicitude.

Psalm 63 :2 - 6: This Psalm was written by David when he was in the Desert of Judah – this is how a wise person responds to God:

Psa. 63:2-8 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Matt. 25:1-13 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you. 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Discipleship Questions:

1. Please read the Scripture readings for today and reflect upon the following question: What is wisdom? The following is an attempt at describing what it means to be wise:

My encyclopedia says that -

“being wise is having or exercising sound judgment. Being able to judge wisely between a number of possible options.

A wise person is capable of judging truly concerning what is right or fitting and is then disposed to act accordingly. In other words, wisdom decides and then always acts wisely! Ha! In a wise person their judgment and action are always in harmony.

A wise person has the ability to perceive and adopt the best possible means for accomplishing any given task. A wise person is characterized by good sense and prudence.

Sometimes the best way to define something is by describing what it’s not. And so, a wise person is the complete opposite of a “foolish” person.

Would you like to be more wise? Our Lord is challenging you to a deeper commitment to becoming wise.

2. After reading Wisdom 6”12-16 what more can you discover about what “wisdom” is all about?

3. Please read the following verse: 1Corinthians 1:30: “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” What does this tell us about the connection between Jesus and Wisdom?

4. After reading the Gospel reading, what does the oil represent that the wise virgins had an ample supply of? Please read the following quote from St. Augustine to discover the answer: “It is some great thing, some exceedingly great thing, that this oil signifies. Do you think it might be charity? If we try out this hypothesis, we hazard no precipitate judgment. I will tell you why charity seems to be signified by the oil. The apostle says, ‘I will show you a still more excellent way.’ ‘If I speak with the tongue of mortals and of angels but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal,’ This is charity. It is “that way above the rest,’ which is with good reason signified by the oil. For oil swims above all liquids. Pour in water, and pour in oil upon it; the oil will swim above. Pour in oil, pour in water upon it; the oil will swim above. If you keep the usual order, it will be uppermost; If you change the order, it will be uppermost. “Charity never fails.”

5. James tells us: James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” May I encourage you now to pray for the great great gift of wisdom but remember that without love it isn’t wisdom.